Phoebus businesses want more inclusion in redevelopment

HAMPTON — With attention lavished on nearby Fort Monroe, Phoebus merchants met with Hampton city officials Thursday evening to make sure they were included in redevelopment plans. More than 30 people showed up for the meeting held at the Phoebus Auction Gallery, owned by Gail Wolpin.

"We don't have a champion. We need a champion — that can work with the city," Wolpin said.

Many business owners said they felt that more attention was being paid to other areas, such as downtown Hampton and Peninsula Town Center. But City Manager Mary Bunting said that the city had to make sure businesses came to the area, regardless of their location preference.

"We can't get businesses to go where businesses don't want to go," Bunting said. "Nor is it the proper role of government to permanently underwrite a business."

She added, "If we don't show them other properties in the city, we risk losing them all together."

Bunting conceded that many Phoebus businesses had a hard time after security was tightened at Fort Monroe in the aftermath of 9/11, and while waiting to see if the former Army base would be designated as a national historic monument.

Chris Stuart, who sits on Hampton City Council and also owns a small business, said more needs to be done to figure out why people come to that section of the city.

"Are they getting to Phoebus accidentally, or through a strategic marketing plan?" Stuart said. "Let's find a way to advertise effectively."

Donnie Tuck, a Hampton City Councilman, said several business owners told him they felt they "were being left out of things."

Business owners also expressed frustration with code enforcement and signage for the area.

John Lowe, who is opening Cogno's Café, said it was important that Phoebus was preserved. Lowe, 51, was raised in the area and said his family can trace its roots in Phoebus back 200 years.

Lowe was a part of the steering committee for the city's master plan for the neighborhood.

"We need to stick with that vision, which is to maintain the historic character," Lowe said. He said he disagreed with the view that downtown Hampton was receiving more attention from the city.

Instead, Lowe said businesses downtown had pooled resources together effectively to attract business for all. Lowe said he believed that Phoebus could come together similarly, but said that in the wake of the recession many businesses had stopped coordinating efforts because of hard times.

"People kept things a little closer to the vest," Lowe said.

"They didn't want to announce it to everyone when they were going to have a special or a sale."